A healthy puppy is a happy puppy. And a happy puppy looks firm, plump and vigorous. Once the puppy has arrived at your place it becomes your liability to look after its health.

For initial six months, the puppy should be prevented from coming under the contact of any stray dog or a sick dog. At this tender age, the resistance power of the puppy is not very strong, thus it should be avoided taken to places like or similar to highway rest stops.


Above all, the puppy should be vaccinated at the regular time intervals so as to stay protected from number of diseases. The vaccinations that every puppy must get to stay healthy are:

 

 

Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Adenvirosis

Primary: Within 8th Week

Booster: 12th Week

Revaccination: Every Year

Corona Virus

Primary:  6th Week

Revaccination: Every Year

Anti rabies

Primary: 14th Week

Booster:  18th Week

Revaccination: Every Year

 

Apart from keeping up with the vaccinations, the puppy should be taken to the local vets for a regular check up at least twice a month for initial six months.

 

In spite of taking so much of care, these little ones tend to fall ill. So as to fight the illness you should be well aware to spot the problem. If the puppy looks week and is not nursing properly or is vomiting you should call for a vet. The basic nature of the puppy’s stool describes his health. A healthy puppy’s stool   is soft, formed and yellow or brown in colour. A green stool or tiny bunches of seeds in the stool is a mere indication of harmless phenomena which is short-lived.

 

During the first few months, the puppy is incapable of maintaining his body temperature, thus is dependent on the external environment.

 

At the time of birth

Puppy’s temperature is approximately 94degrees

1-2 Weeks

94-98 degrees. The temperature should be raised gradually.

3 Weeks

99-100 Degrees

After4 weeks and beyond

The puppy attains the body temperature of an adult dog. It is 101.5 degrees.

 

Teething Trouble

 

The puppy begins to shed its baby teeth at the four months of age. The baby teeth are much sharper compared to the adult ones. By the time your puppy completes six months of age; he develops a whole new set of denture and shed the old one. If in case you find some baby teeth still unshed, you should contact the vet and get them removed to avoid any further ailments. In this shedding and growing process, you may find many of your favourite pair of shoes, socks, accessories, chewed! You may get screwed up of replacing his food bowls and many things among your drawing room suite.

The patience is the only weapon that can make you win this battle. Keep the stuff toys, socks and other fragile items far away from the reach of the puppy. Give him enough of teething toys and calcium biscuits. Develop a habit of brushing their teeth every day using a special finger toothbrush. Do NOT use the human toothpaste as it might cause ulcer in the stomach. There are flavoured toothpastes available in the market exclusively for dogs.

 Remember, this is the temporary phase which will soon pass by. And after that you will become a proud master of a well behaved, friendly, loyal and obedient friend of your family.